Dominic Turk: Firearm and drugs in his possession while on a police pursuit

A western NSW man who obtained a firearm, ice, speed and cocaine led police on a pursuit on a highway. Read his sentence below.

Dubbo Courthouse. Picture: Jedd Manning/Western Aerial Productions

A western NSW man who led police on a pursuit through bushland while his license was disqualified and having possession of a firearm and three different drugs, has learned his fate in court.

Dominic Turk, 29, will be spending his birthday behind bars after Magistrate Gary Wilson sentenced him for his charges of driving a motor vehicle while license is suspended, driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period, police pursuit, the use of an unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on the road, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and three counts of drug possession.

The Nyngan man appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday to hear his sentence after he was charged and arrested in January.

Police facts tendered to the court stated police received a tip from a member of the public saying a male motorbike rider was not wearing head protection while driving on the Barrier Highway.

Dubbo courthouse

With this knowledge, police conducted patrols of the site and noticed a red motorbike travelling in a westerly direction across the Barrier Highway and Neeroc Road intersection.

“The lights and siren of the police vehicle were activated to indicate to the accused to stop,” the statement said.

“The accused looked back towards the police and on seeing police he has accelerated.”

According to the statement, police “initiated” a police pursuit and the offender continued to look back at the police and “did not intend to stop”.

The offender turned off the Barrier Highway and entered 15 metres into the bushland.

Mr Turk jumped off his motorbike and “appeared to be reaching under the motorbike”.

Police exited their vehicle and asked the offender to stop, to which he stopped what he was doing and put up his hands.

Mr Turk was placed under arrest while holding a small bag that contained a black gel blaster.

He was taken to Nyngan Police Station where he was placed into custody.

The police conducted a search of the bag and found a magazine for the firearm and found 0.74g of ice, 0.44g of speed and 0.53g of cocaine.

The drugs were individually packaged in plastic resealable bags in a small pill container.

His solicitor, Rachael Wong, said that she sees “prospects of rehabilitation” for her client.

“This happened after his girlfriend passed away,” she said that he is still “dealing” with that loss.

She said that her client obtains a White Card and is keen to work.

“It demonstrates someone who is willing to change - he’s maturing”.

Magistrate Wilson convicted and sentenced Mr Turk to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 10 months to commence on February 23, 2023 and expiring on December 22, 2023 with a non-parole period of five months.

The offender is to be released to parole on 22 July 2023.

He is also fined $400.